Pala council meeting disrupted during Opposition protest over sanitation works

A protest by Opposition councillors disrupted a meeting of the Pala municipal council in Kerala’s Kottayam district on Wednesday after members objected to the alleged non-discussion of sanitation projects. United Democratic Front councillors staged a demonstration in front of the chairperson’s dais, claiming that proposals concerning sanitation works had not been brought before the council. The protest became disorderly when councillor Binu Pulikkakandam allegedly took a paper from chairperson Maya Rahul and pushed away the microphone as she attempted to speak.

Ms. Rahul, an independent councillor, subsequently left the meeting after declaring that all items on the agenda had been passed. She later filed a complaint with the police against Mr.

Pulikkakandam. The complaint alleged that the councillor had caused damage to public property and created a threatening atmosphere in the municipality. It also said that his conduct had caused mental distress to women councillors.

The allegations have not been adjudicated in the material provided. The dispute centres on the conduct of the municipal council and the handling of sanitation-related projects. The Opposition councillors’ protest prevented a routine discussion from proceeding without confrontation, while the chairperson’s declaration allowed the listed agenda items to be treated as passed.

Ms. Rahul heads the ruling council with the support of a group of UDF rebels and the Left Democratic Front. That political arrangement places the council’s proceedings within a divided local administration, although the source material does not indicate whether the protest will affect the council’s future meetings.

The police complaint now places the incident before the authorities. No response from Mr. Pulikkakandam or further police action was reported in the supplied material.